Automatic stoker.



M. ROE.

AUTOMATIC STOKBB.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1, 1906.

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Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

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AUTOMATIC STOKBR.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 1, 1906. 913,771 a Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

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AUTOMATIC STOKEB.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 1, 190a.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

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J. M. ROE.

AUTOMATIC STOKE-E.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 1, 1906.

Patented. M312, 1909.

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JOHN M. ROE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNDER-FEED STOKER COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC s roicsn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JOHN M. ROE, citizen of'the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Im rovement in Automatic Stokers, of which t e following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to automatic stoking mechanism, its object being to rovide improved, simplified and more e cient constructions and operation for such mechanisms.

Automatic stoking mechanisms heretofore used are ve complicated and require an abundance o mechanisms and machinery in order that they can properl control the amount of fuel supplied to t e boiler. In some cases, the charging ram is operated by steam power, being connected with a piston reciprocating within a steam cylinder. The operation of the iston is controlled by valve mechanism whic is driven from an engine usually supplied with steam generated in the boiler with which the stoker is associated.

By means of my invention, I am enabled to entirely eliminate the steam cylinder mechanism, and consequently also the valve mechanism therefor, and I provide mechanical mechanism directly connected with the charging ram and driven by an engine which may be electrical or which may be a steam engine driven by the steam generated in the boiler fed by the stoker, or driven by steam from some other source.

Generally speaking, my invention comprises, ratchet mechanism connected with the charging ram and driven from the engine. This ratchet mechanism is adjustable, whereby the driving engine may be caused to give any number of revolutions to one reciprocation of the ram. 4

My invention is adaptable for both overfeed and under-feed stokers, but I shall de-v scribe it as applied to an under-feed stoker.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing the front end of a boiler, partly in section, and the stoking apparatus of my invention in front of the boiler. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, taken from the other side of the stoker mechanism and showing also part of the boiler; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the stoker mechanism shown in Fi 1, the hopper and part of the inclosing wal being removed to more clearly show the interior mechanism; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4.4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detached view of the ratchet mechanism taken from the right of Fig. 4.

The entire operatin mechanism is contained between the si e walls 1 and 2, the

front wall 3 and the semi-circular detachable top part 4. The side walls 1 and 2 along their front part are joined by a semi-circular shelf or ledge 5, which with the semi-circular top member 4 forms the charging cylinder or chamber in whichis disposed the ram head 6. Over this chamber in the top part 4 is the opening 7 over which is secured the hopper 8. The supporting frame com rising the walls 1, 2, 3, and 4 is secured in front of the boiler with the outlet of the charging cylinder in register with, the fuel entrance to the fuel compartment 9 under the boiler, and thus upon reciprocation of the ram, fuel will be forced from the hop or into the furnace.

Secured in and extending between the side walls 1 and 2 is the pivot shaft 10 on which is loosely pivoted a ratchet member or disk 11 having only one tooth 12. Pivoted to the extension 13 from this disk is one end of the connecting rod 14 whose other end )ivots between the extensions 15, 15 on the lront wall of the ram head, and when this disk is rotated, the ram will be oscillated within the charging chamber. Also )ivoted on the shaft 10 is a beam 16 from w lose upper end extends a pivot arm 17 on which is mounted a pawl 18 in position to engage the disk 11. Also loosel mounted on the shaft 10 adjacent to the isk 11 is a ratchet wheel 19, and also pivoted on the arm 17 is a pawl 20 disposedto engage the teeth 21 which extend about the entire periphe of the ratchet wheel '19. The pawl 20 is old toward the ratchet wheel, either by being weighted or by means of'a spring 22 as shown, and the pawl 18 may also be held toward the disk 11 in any well known manner, as by a spring or by being weighted. Extending part way about the ratchet wheel and concentric therewith is the cam surface 23 whose diameter is equal to or greater. than that of the disk 11, and which cam surface is broken by the roove 24. The end of the pawl 18 extends eyond the side of the disk 11 to engage this cam surface. This cam surface can be cut on the ratchet wheel as shown, or a separate cam disk can be adapted to rotate with the ratchet wheel. Below the shaft 10 and journaled in suitable bearings 25, 26, extending from. the side walls 1 and 2 is a shaft 27 on which is secured a crank arm 28 whose end is connected with the other with a suitable engine which may be driven directly by steam generated in the boiler with which the Stoker is associated. This engine may be an electric motor or gas engine, and the adjustment is such that when the wheel 31 is driven, the shaft 27 will be oscillated to cause oscillation ofthe beam 16 and'oscillation of the pawls carried on said beam through a constant and suitable arc.

The disk 11 to which the ram is connected can be rotated only when the end of the pawl 18 engages in the slot or groove 36 in front of the tooth 12, and so long as-the cam surface 23 is adjacent to this groove, the pawl will be in engagement with this cam surface and its end held above the groove and tooth. The pawl 20, however, engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 19, and upon oscillation of the beam, is carried back and forth over the teeth 21. When the beam 16 is oscillated in a clockwise direction, the ratchet wheel is carried by the pawl with the beam 16 through an angle, but when the beam is returned in a counter-clockwise direction, the pawl 18 is returned over the teeth of the ratchet wheel to its initial osition, the return movement of the ratcliet wheel being prevented by a detent pawl 37 mounted on a pin 38, extending from the wall 2, a spring 39 engaging the pin and awl, serving to hold the pawl end a ainst t e ratchet wheel. After repeated osc"lations of the beam 16 and annular advancements of the ratchet wheel 19, the groove 24' will be brought adj acent the groove 36 in disk 11 and the pawl 18 can th6I1- drop from the cam surface 23 into the groove 36 and into en agement with tooth 12. During the next 0 ockwise oscillation of the beam 16, both the ratchet disk 11 and the ratchet wheel 19 will be given an annular advancement, the disk 11 being moved by the pawl 18, and the ratchet wheel being moved, as before, by the pawl 20. The ram connected with the disk 11 is, therefore, drawn to the rear, andthe charging cylinder is filled with fuel fromthe hoper. The rear end of theconnecting rod 14 IS in the path" of the up er end of the beam 16, and upon return osci lation of this beam, the connecting rod is engaged by the beam end and the ram returned to itsnormal position, the charge in the cylinder having been forced into the furnace.- During this return oscillation of the beam 16, the ratchet wheel 19 is held stationary by the pawl 37 but the disk 11 is returned upon return of the connecting red by the beam. The length of the cam surface 23 is so adjusted that upon such return movement of the awl 20 after operation of the ram, it will e in position to engage under the'end of the returning pawl 18 to raise said pawl to be clear of the tooth 12, Therefore, 11 on subsequent clockwise oscillation of the cam 16, only the ratchet wheel 19 will receive annular advancement, and the disk 11 will not again be advanced until the cam surface 23 has been withdrawn from under the pawl 18, whereupon both the ratchet wheel and disk will be advanced and the ram operated as before.

It is very desirable that the degree ofannular advancements be adjustable, such that there may be one actuation of the ram for any number of oscillations of the shaft 27 or revolutions of the driving source. For this purpose adjusting means are provided by means of which the attendant may readily set the apparatus to give the desired rate of operation of the ram. Pivoted on the shaft 10 within the wall 2 and adjacent to the ratchet wheel 19 is an arm 40 whose outer edge 41 is in the arc of a circle having a radius slightly greater than the radius to the end of the teeth 21. .Pivoted on the shaft 10 on the outside of the wall 2 is a pointer 42 whose end travels over a scale 43. The movements of the pointer are conveyed to the arm 40 through the connecting bolt or screw 44 which passes through the segmental opening 45 in the wall 2-. The position of the end 46 of the arm' 41 determines the amount of annular advancements of the ratchet wheel during the forepart of the clockwise rotation of the beam 16. The end of pawl 20 will travel along the edge 41 and will not engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel, but when this pawl leaves the end 46, it engages the ratchet wheel, and during the remainder of the clockwise oscillation ofthe beam, the ratchet wheel will be advanced. The indications on the scale represent numbers of teeth included in the are through which the ratchet wheel is advanced for any setting of the pointer. For instance, if the pointer is set at 10, as shown in ig. 2, the are through which the ratchet :wheel will be advanced, comprises ten teeth. If the pointer is set at zero, there will be no actuation of the ratchet wheel or of the ram. If

the pointer is set at 20, the ram will actuate.

. heretofore used in the art.

-'at a' maximum rate; that is, the arc of ad rate of operation and may at any time ascertain by consulting the scale at what rate the mechanism is operating and the furnace is being charged. I

A feed rod 47 may also be operated in connection with this mechanism, this rod passing through the bushing 48 in the wall 3 and connecting at its outer end with the connecting link 49 whose other end pivots to the crank pin 50 extending from the disk 11. WVithin the furnace, feed wedges 51 are attached to the rod {17. Whenever the disk 11 is rotated in a clockwise direction and the ram drawn to the rear, the rod 47 will be given a forward motion to push the fuel along the furnace and to make way for the next charge which will be entered when the ram is pushed forwardly .by' the beam 16, the

rod 47 being at the same time withdrawn upon counterclockwise return movement of the disk '11.-

I do not wish to be at all limited to the arrangement of the. various parts and their particular construction herein shown, as a wide range of modifications and changes are possible Without departing from the scope and s irit-of my invention. 'My invention shoul be construed broadly, as it is an entire departure from stoking mechanisms As before stated, I am enabled to dispense with steam or other fluid cylinder heretofore used for driving the stoker and the complicated, expensive valve'mechanism necessary for such arrangemcnt. My device is entirely mechanical, both in construction and operation and is entirely self-contained, and requires very little space. The rate of operation can be very readily adjusted, and the particular adjustment at any time is always indicated. The operative parts are all entirely inclosed in a casing and are thereby protected. They are', however, readily accessible at any time, but being so simplein construction and ar rangement, they require very little attention and veny little labor.

Having thus described my invention, I desire to secure the following claims by Letters Patent:

1. In a stoker, the combination with a charging cylinder for connection with the furnace to be fed, of a plunger within the cylinder, a ratchet disk connected with the p unger, a pawl, an arm carrying the pawl, means for continuously oscillating the arm, mechanism operating continuously for retaining the awl out of operative engagement with t 1e ratchet disk during a predetermined numbcr of oscillations of the arm, said mechanism also servin to cause operative engagement of the pawl with the disk after each predetermined number of oscillations, whereby the plunger is carried with the disk and o erated.

2. In a stoker,'t1e combination with a charging cylinder adapted for connection with the furnace to be fed, of a plunger within the cylinder, a ratchet disk connected with the plunger, a pawl, an arm carrying said pawl, means for continuously oscillating said arm, and means operating continuously for allouin operative engagement of the pawl with the ratchet disk during only one oscillation out of a redetermined number of oscillations of tie arm, whereby the plunger is intermittently operated.

3. In a stoker, the combination with a charging cylinder adapted for connection \ifith the furnace to'be fed, of a plunger within the cylinder, a ratchet disk connected with the plunger, a pawl, an arm carrying said pawl, means for continuously oscillating said arm, means operating continuously for allowing operative engagement of the pawl with the ratchet disk during only one oscillation out of a predetermined number of oscillations of the arm, whereby the plunger is intermittently operated, and adjusting means for determinin the number of oscillations during which the pawl is out of operative engagement with the ratchet disk.

4. In a stoker, the combination with a charging cylinder for connection with the furnace to befed, of a lunger within the c linder, a ratchet mem or connected with tie lplunger, a pawl, an armcarryin said paw, means for continuously oscil ating said arm, mechanism for causing operative engagement of the pawl with the ratchet mem er during one oscillation of the arm to cause reciprocation of the plunger, and means operating continuously during the oscillation of said arm for retaining the pawl out of such operative engagement during a predetermined number of oscillations of said arm.

5. In a stoker, the combination with a charging cylinder for connection with the furnace to be fed, of a lunger within the c linder, a ratchet mem er connected with t e lplunger, a pawl, an arm carrying said paw means for continuously oscillating said arm, mechanism operating continuously for causin operative engagement of the pawl with the ratchet member during one oscillation of the arm to cause reciprocation of the plunger, said mechanism also serving 'to retain the awl out of such operative engagement Luring a predetermined number of oscillations-of said arm, and adjusting means for determining the number of oscillations during which the ratchet member is notoperated by the pawl.

6. In a stoker, the combination with a plunger, of a driving member, means for causing continuous oscillation of the driving member, a clutch member connected with the driving member, a corn anion clutch member connected with the p unger, means for preventing effective connection of the clutch members during a predetermined reciprocable plunger, of a ratchet member connected therewith, a pawl for the ratchet member, a supporting member for the pawl, driving mechanism for causing continuous I oscillation of the supporting member to 5 oscillate the awl over the ratchet member, and cam mechanism operating continuously for holding the pawl away from the ratchet member during a predetermined number of oscillations of the supporting member and for allowing connection of the pawl with the ratchetmember during each oscillation after such predetermined number of oscillations, whereby the plunger is given one reciprocation for every predetermined number of oscillations of the pawl supporting member.

8. In a stoker, the combination with a reciprocable' plunger, of a ratchet member connected therewith, a pawl for the ratchet member, a supporting member for the pan 1, driving mechanism for causing continuous oscillation of the supporting member to oscillate the awl over the ratchet member, a continuous y operating cam, and means for causing said cam to hold the par-v1 from the ratchet member during a redetermined number of oscillations of t e supporting member and for allowing connection of the pawl with the ratchet member after each predetermined number of such oscillations, whereby the plunger is reciprocated only ionce for every predetermined number of oscillations of the pawl supporting member.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of September, A. 1)., 1906. JOHN M. Ron

Witnesses:

CHARLES J. SCHMIDT, ARTHUR H. BOETTCHER. 

